Halle Berry became an Oscar winner shortly after her debut as Storm in the X-Men series, something Hayter says was parlayed into an increased role for the actress in later movies. However, if producers had their way, it wouldn't have been Berry in the role at all.
According to Hayter, Angela Bassett, who would later go on to join the DC movie universe in Green Lantern, was the first choice for Storm, but salary requirements stopped them from being able to offer her the part. (Rumor has it Bassett was offered the part as early as the mid-'90s.) Bassett hasn't commented on why she turned the role down, but she has responded to being a fan favorite for the part, telling Film Fad in February of 2016 that she remembers being in the conversation for the role and that she'd like to play a superhero at some point in the future, saying she thinks she could be "quite believable saving the day."
Two of the others up for the role of Storm had musical backgrounds. Hayter said Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey both came in and tested, although neither made the cut. Still, the image of an X-Men universe starring Michael and Janet Jackson may never leave our minds.
